Potential millage hike brings hundreds of concerned residents to Moss Point City Hall

Updated September 13, 2018 at 5:17 PM;Posted September 13, 2018 at 12:28 PM

Hundreds of Moss Point residents showed to City Hall on Wednesday after the mayor held a special called meeting to discuss where the city is financially and why a potential millage increase is imminent. (Tyler Carter/tcarter@al.com)

MOSS POINT, Miss. -- Hundreds of concerned citizens filled City Hall in Moss Point searching for answers and transparency regarding a potential millage hike set for vote at the Sept. 18 aldermen meeting.

According to Mayor Mario King, the purpose of the meeting informs citizens about the city's current financial standing and what is needed to help the city break even financially.

After working on the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, King said the reason the increase needs to happen is to help the city break even and current budget projections for FY19 shows the city is nine percent over budget.

"The meeting went as expected and I am glad our citizens are engaged," King said. "This is unfortunate -- no one across the country wants to raise taxes, but this is something that must be done. The city is moving forward, and this is one of the ways we must rejuvenate our community."

When tax increases are in play, citizens want to know where their current tax dollars are being spent and are looking for a return on their investment.

Residents posed questions to King and the aldermen concerning their plan to attract industry to Moss Point, however, some left dissatisfied with what they heard from the mayor.

Standing room only was left in City Hall in Moss Point after residents heard a tax increase could be looming. (Tyler Carter/tcarter@al.com)Tyler Carter | tcarter@al.com

"First, you schedule a meeting in a room that only seats 88 people when I believe the population in the city is about 13,000, so I think this meeting was poorly organized," resident Carlos Fagan said. "I would like to see more economic development -- I think we have one of the best coastlines in the State of Mississippi so if we attract those businesses, that puts less pressure on the citizens to keep the city afloat."

While specifics could not be shared, King did alert the community that businesses were indeed coming to city, specifically, a car dealership.

The issue was also raised by the public regarding raises for King and the aldermen and according to the mayor, neither he or the aldermen will receive salary increases with should the millage increase pass.

Resident Charles Burck said he knows the mayor and aldermen are working hard but thinks the city should vigorously pursue prosecution from illegal hookups which has cost Moss Point significantly.

"I still have questions regarding the utility shortfall -- people didn't make it to the bank, money disappeared, people haven't been paying their water bills -- if they would collect those shortfalls, we would be in a better position budget-wise," Burck said. "Why should all the other citizens pay for the ones who ripped off $1 million worth of water and sewer?"

Obviously, someone feels that the City of Moss Point is not being fully forthcoming about what is happening within the city. (Tyler Carter/tcarter@al.com)Tyler Carter | tcarter@al.com

Most left the meeting with various opinions regarding the things that they heard from King and the aldermen, but King said whether people are engaged or not, the goal of the meeting was achieved.

"Tonight was an opportunity to sell us," King said. "There is a need for everyone to be present and involved. Decisions that will be made affects everyone -- all our board members are homeowners, so they will be impacted as well. This is a tough decision, but tonight, everyone had a seat at the table."

Ward 1 alderman Sherwood Bradford told those in attendance at the meeting that he would not vote "aye" for the millage uptick because he feels contracts the city has need to be frozen.

Should the millage increase pass, millage rates will go up 10 percent, according to King.

Currently, the millage rate in Moss Point is 54.21 - the city is proposing a 5.42 mill increase, potentially making it 59.63 mills.

According to the mayor, the average house in the city is about $60,000. According to King, residents are looking at about a $24.50 increase.

"You have to come and show up to ask these questions because it keeps them on their toes and they have to remain transparent," Burck said.